September 29, 2010

The New IZOD Indy Car Trophy: A Work of Art That Sets The Tone For The Future

Any time anything changes in the Indy Car world, traditionalists begin howling as if someone made off with their first born children. We have seen it happen repeatedly through the decades. Personally, I saw it when the first rear-engine machine arrived and started a revolution. It was seen with turbines. Ground effects. cart. Split. You name it. Change means bitching. Sometimes more than others.

Bitching has increased exponentially over the years. It is unclear whether it is due to the human propensity to propel themselves toward hostility or just frustration that most other people have gone stupid or something in between.

The latest thing Indy Car fans say they hate is the new championship trophy. It was commissioned by title sponsor IZOD and acclaimed sculptor Ted Gall designed it. The trophy is definitely not of the ‘bowling trophy’ variety some have bitched about in the past. It is bold and is supposed to convey the intertwined nature of man and machine in the 21st century. It is stainless steel and rests on an African Pedauk hardwood base. Classy.

The same guy is responsible for the great art work outside the Barber Motorsports Park museum. The Indy Car trophy is certainly out of the box. For that reason alone I like it. Traditionalists want another Borg Warner or bowling trophy. The problem is that will not differentiate the product substantially from much of anything in the past.

For my money, it gets well deserved kudos. Fantastic. A step in the right direction.

Geez!!! It’s a trophy. It’s for the drivers, not the fans. And I could agrue that that figure on this trophy is the same as the one on the Borg Warner. Some similarities there. It think the man on the Borg Warner has less, if any clothes.

But big deal!! Anyone fortunate enough to receive one are only concerned on what it represents.